The afternoon was spent meeting with the pro hockey writers association, where there was an interesting debate about Internet-only bloggers and accessibility in hockey. I know a few of you run your own Thrashers or hockey blogs — so what do you think? Should bloggers, who have no media-affiliation, have full-media access to NHL games? Eklund, who runs hockeybuzz.com, presented the view of the bloggers, but I’m curious what y’all think. Should Internet-only bloggers get NHL credentials?

Why Phoenix?
According to Perreault, a variety of factors entered into his decision — their injuries, primarily to Steve Reinprecht and Mike Ricci at centre; his familiarity with coach Wayne Gretzky, with whom he played in Los Angeles and the fact that he’d played in Phoenix once before — with the Roadrunners of the old IHL.
“It was L.A.‘s farm team and I really loved the area when I played there,” said Perreault. “So I knew, coming in late in the season with my family, I wouldn’t have to waste a month, getting used to the environment.”

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, opening a luncheon this week on diversity in hockey, proudly made note of 39 cities offering inner-city programs with the help of the league.
Ironically, Bettman trumpeted the programs in a city without one.
“It takes somewhat of a risk for us to be able to do a presentation (here),” said Ken Martin Jr., director of the NHL’s diversity program. “But we’re very proud of our game and where the game is going.”

Tonight at American Airlines Center, Lidstrom will suit up for his ninth All-Star appearance, joining several Western Conference teammates who normally find him the bane of their existence.
“He’s a computer,” Anaheim forward Teemu Selanne said of Lidstrom. “He doesn’t do mistakes. The way he can see the game and he can pass, it’s incredible. It’s going to be fun to play with him.”
“He’s one of those guys that probably drives everybody nuts because you can’t beat him,” Sakic said. “For me, and you can probably ask a lot of guys, it’s more frustrating playing against a guy like Nicklas who’s in such good position you can’t beat him than if somebody tries to take a run at you. At least then you have a chance that maybe he misses you and you’ve got a shot on goal.”

The New York Rangers have placed veteran defenseman Darius Kasparaitis on waivers. The 34-year-old has two goals and two assists in 24 games and is averaging 14:52 minutes of ice time this season. Kasparaitis has been a healthy scratch the last three games and hasn’t played since January 11.

Daniel Mason, a University of Alberta business professor who studies sports marketing, says the league likely changed jerseys because of the new one’s performance features, since fashion considerations make the change a risky merchandising move.
“One of elements that makes hockey jerseys desirable for people to purchase and wear is that they’re so bulky and comfortable and you can wear them over anything,” Mason said.
“It will be interesting to see how well-received form-fitting jerseys are to Joe Fan.”
He says fans may resent having their pricey old tops go out of date. “I do think that a certain point, given the price point of a jersey, the fans are going to wonder why they dropped $150 on a sweater that’s defunct now.”

The NHL has forged “tentative agreements” with the players’ association to modify parts of its drug-testing program, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said.
Daly said nothing has been finalized but general accord has been reached to increase the number of tests to which players can be subjected from two no-notice tests per year.
“Potentially, different players on different teams could be subject to different numbers of tests. It reduces the predictability of knowing, essentially, when you’re not subject to testing anymore,” Daly said.

from Tarik El-Bashir’s blog, Capitals Insider, at the Washington Post,

I spent the minutes leading up to last night’s “Fastest Skater” competition bragging to my fellow reporters in the press box about how Alex Ovechkin was going to smoke the competition.
I couldn’t have been more wrong. He hesitated a bit at the start, never really caught up, and wound up posting the slowest time of the six competitors - by far, lapping the rink in 15.19 seconds.
I was stunned. The other reporters were stunned. Ovechkin was, too.

Gov. Ed Rendell and Penguins co-owner Ronald Burkle resumed their arena negotiations late Tuesday by talking over the phone, Rendell said this morning.
The two men agreed to talk again next week and could meet in person, Rendell said. He spoke after appearing at an Oakland event related to his health care reform proposal.
Rendell said the conversation with Burkle went well, adding that he does not think public officials will have to resort to asking the National Hockey League to block the Penguins from moving to a new hometown.